Posted By Christopher Dempsey On July 22, 2013 @ 1:42 pm In Colorado State University,Football,Mountain West Conference | No Comments

Jim McElwain. (Karl Gehring, The Denver Post)

LAS VEGAS — Motivation, at this time of year for Colorado State, seems to never stray too far away from the sting of a preseason poll. Such is the case again for the Rams as they were picked to finish fifth in the six-team Mountain Division of the Mountain West Conference.

It is the first year the conference features division play.

“I think in some ways, hopefully some of our guys take note and say ‘Wow, that’s the perception.’ Because sometimes perception becomes reality,” CSU coach Jim McElwain said. “What I’m hoping our guys do is really take a little bit of a look at it and maybe put a chip on their shoulder.”

Count senior linebacker Shaquil Barrett among those with a chip.

“From our past seasons I can understand how they can pick us fifth,” Barrett said. “But from inside the team, our inner workings, we feel as though we should prove ourselves and become better than fifth, at the end of the season being up top. It’s insulting a little bit. But that’s what will just put a chip on our shoulder. We’ll just have to go out there and prove to people that we are better than what they think of us.”

Said center Weston Richburg: “It is a good chip. It would be good for us to see and get that attitude of trying to prove them wrong. But in the end it’s a prediction, so you don’t need to hand your had on something like that. But it definitely is a chip on your shoulder.”

Richburg’s and Barrett’s reactions are what McElwain wants to see spread team-wide.

“That’s what maybe you’d hope and it can be something they can use,” McElwain said. “I know we’re still going to play the games. So we’ll see what happens.”

Meanwhile, one player, senior center Weston Richburg, made the Mountain West all-conference team.